Need help removing springs on superbird concealed headlight

1970 birdman · Jan 8, 2016

I am contemplating removing the springs on the headlights to keep them from opening when the car is off. I am having a hard time finding the vacuum leak and there is not much info on how to isolate the leak. I hate taking the car to shows and having the lights creep open drives me nuts . I read in a couple places that by removing the springs prevents them from opening on their own and the lights open and close fine with out them . I believe there are 2 springs . Has anyone else here done this ?

62MAX · Jan 9, 2016

You can access the spring by removing the grille,the springs are there as a safety measure to keep the lights open if you lose your vacuum source.Personally I would do whatever it took to find the leak.Other than a bad hose,you have the two vacuum canisters for the lights,vacuum reservoir under battery tray and the headlight vacuum switch which is usually the culprit.The grease in the switch that seals the slide to the ports dries with age and wont seal the slide .

1970 birdman · Jan 9, 2016

62MAX said:
You can access the spring by removing the grille,the springs are there as a safety measure to keep the lights open if you lose your vacuum source.Personally I would do whatever it took to find the leak.Other than a bad hose,you have the two vacuum canisters for the lights,vacuum reservoir under battery tray and the headlight vacuum switch which is usually the culprit.The grease in the switch that seals the slide to the ports dries with age and wont seal the slide .

Any my suggestions for the best place online to get a switch ? this car is in perfect condition the hoses and the canister look perfect and the fittings seem tight does anyone have a link or info on the best way to isolate the problem ?

RS23VOA · Jan 9, 2016

I would use hemostats to pinch off the vacuum hoses to isolate the area the leak is. No need pulling the switch if the vac pods or the bean can reservoir is bad. I would start at the vac hoses at the radiator support to start, then work back towards the firewall. Could be the translucent connectors are cracked. You just have to start isolating the areas and figuring it out.

I would not pull the springs.

1970 birdman · Jan 9, 2016

RS23VOA said:
I would use hemostats to pinch off the vacuum hoses to isolate the area the leak is. No need pulling the switch if the vac pods or the bean can reservoir is bad. I would start at the vac hoses at the radiator support to start, then work back towards the firewall. Could be the translucent connectors are cracked. You just have to start isolating the areas and figuring it out.

I would not pull the springs.[/QUOTE

ok thank you appreciate it !

RS23VOA · Jan 10, 2016

Good luck. Be interesting to see what it is.

Need help removing springs on superbird concealed headlight

1970 birdman

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62MAX

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1970 birdman

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RS23VOA

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1970 birdman

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RS23VOA

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